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How Much Spirits for a 150 Guest New Year's Eve Party?

🥃
48
bottles of spirits

For a 150-guest new year's eve party lasting 5 hours

15% buffer included
709
Total servings
4.7
Per person
+6
Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

1

Estimate actual drinkers

150 guests × 70% drinking rate
= 105 drinkers

At large events, about 70% of guests typically drink alcohol.

2

Calculate base consumption

105 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 5 hours
= 788 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 5-hour event.

3

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.75)
= 591 adjusted drinks

People drink faster in the first hour and slow down as the event progresses.

4

Apply new year's eve party modifier

× 1.2 (+20% for spirits)
= 709 spirits servings needed

New Year's Eve Partys typically consume 20% more spirits than average.

5

Convert to bottles

709 servings ÷ 17 servings per bottle
= 41.7 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of spirits provides 17 servings.

6

Add 15% buffer & round up

41.7 × 1.15 = 48.0, rounded up
= 48 bottles

Always round up and add a buffer. Running out is worse than having leftovers!

* Why trust this formula?

Based on industry standards and refined by bartenders with 30+ years of experience. We factor in consumption decay (people drink less as events progress) and real-world drinking percentages.

📊 Quick Reference: Spirits by Guest Count

Guests Spirits Needed Total Servings
25 guests 8 bottles 118 servings
50 guests 16 bottles 236 servings
75 guests 24 bottles 355 servings
100 guests 32 bottles 473 servings
150 guests (you) 48 bottles 709 servings
200 guests 64 bottles 945 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for new year's eve party.

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

🥃
Spirits
The main event
48
bottles

Don't forget these

  • Mixers (soda, tonic, juice) (Variety is key)
    237 liters
  • Ice (~2 lbs per person)
    210 lbs
  • Cocktail glasses (2 per drinker)
    210 glasses
    Buy
  • Garnishes (limes, lemons)
    89 pieces

Pro Tips for Your New Year's Eve Party

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

70% of champagne is consumed between 11:30pm and 12:15am - time your chilling.

Have champagne COLD and ready to pour at 11:55pm.

🎯

People pace themselves until 10pm then drinking accelerates.

🧊

Late-night parties need designated drivers or Uber - plan ahead.

Noisemakers and party favors should be near the champagne station.

🛒 Buying Guide

This is THE champagne event. Plan 1 bottle per 3-4 guests for the midnight toast, plus additional for cocktails (French 75s, Kir Royale). Have regular bar options for earlier in the evening. Stock more than you think - better to have leftovers than run out at midnight.

🎉

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